Launch of New Japanese Rocket - Epsilon, With SPRINT-A Onboard

A new rocket for Japan launched today, September 14th 2013 at 05:00 UTC from the Uchinoura Space Center. The new solid fueled rocket, called Epsilon carried a small payload SPRINT-A into orbit which is an ultraviolet astronomy satellite to study the atmospheres and magnetospheres of other planets.

The Epsilon rocket replaces the M-V rocket which last launched in 2006. Epsilon's first stage is one of the strap on boosters used on the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets helping to keep costs down for small payloads.